"Historical examination of the right to bear arms, from English antecedents to the drafting of the Second Amendment, bears proof that the right to bear arms has consistently been, and should still be, construed as an individual right." -- U.S. District Judge Sam Cummings, Re: U.S. vs Emerson (1999)

I was once at the detention center ... we brought someone in, and I was asked to help deal with a guy that some officers had brought in. I guess it took 2 detention and 4 rather sizable officers to get him into a detention cell, and they said they barely accomplished that. There was a lot of broken furniture, windows, door, etc. as I walking in there. I was known for dealing with violent people, that was my thing. Anyway, 2 of the officers assured me that they had both searched him well before bringing him in, and the 2 detention people told me they had searched him.

So, I had them lock me in the detention room with him, the entire time he's going off on how he could kill me in a flash and was going to kill them. This was one wound up guy. I was never one that was intimidated easily, however with this guy I told them if I yelled, they better be opening that door and rushing in if I needed help. Anyway, after quite awhile I had him calmed down, realizing he would only rack up more charges, and promising he would cooperate with getting a shower, dressed, etc. I told them "ok, open up... he's going to go get his shower"...... whereupon he says (as he's reaching into the crotch of his pants) .... " I better give you this before they find it "..... and pulls out a 4" barrel .357 LOADED revolver.
I just calmly told him, "yell, you don't want them to find you with that " .

I took the officers and detention staff into an office, shut the door, showed them the revolver and began expressing my view of their search of him.... and where I ought to put that gun in terms of their anatomy. Guess he could have taken us out whenever he wanted. In that area, everyone has to be unarmed.

It wasn't too funny. I imagine there was a real "shock" factor when they found that gun in his cell.

Perhaps your above-mentioned colleagues found employment with the Onlsow County Detention Center. That explanation is certainly as plausible as anything else offered up.